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On Monday, July 7, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners received a presentation on the proposed economic impact of the proposed Rainbow Springs Solar project. Craig Compton, Principal Investigator with the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) at Wichita State University’s Barton School of Business, presented the findings of the Economic Impact Analysis during the commission's regular meeting. He was joined by representatives from Clearway Energy, the company developing the solar project. Source: www.koamnewsnow.com - RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

The City and Fire Dept celebrate the opening of a new fire station. Saturday morning the final siren was sounded at the former station, 121 West 11th St, and the fire trucks and apparatus then paraded to the new fire station at 1709 Military Ave along Route 66. The former station served the city 99 years. Source: www.koamnewsnow.com - RSS Results in news/local-news of type article

The City of Derby voted unanimously to pass an ordinance limiting the sale of fireworks. This comes after the state updated laws earlier this year to allow for year-round sales. City officials argued that year-round sales increase fire risk, threaten the welfare of pets and certain community members, such as veterans, and make enforcement nearly impossible. Source: KSN-TV

Fifteen years ago, the Cottonwood Falls Grade School closed its doors, and its future went up in the air as it went up for auction. However, the 120-year-old building is now open again, with a new look and purpose. After years of flux, the schoolhouse itself now offers affordable housing after a partnership with Frontier Development out of Alva. "They work a lot out of Manhattan," Coster added. "They proved to be the best partners that we could have found. We sold this property to them, and then they went into the work of turning it into apartments." The expanded portion [...]

Garden City officials marked a milestone in public safety with the official ribbon-cutting for Fire Station 3, a project more than two decades in the making. The new station on Garden City's east side is the last project funded by the 2017 sales tax initiative. Officials say it shows the city's growth and its dedication to meeting public safety needs. Source: KSN-TV

Sedgwick County announced on Monday that they received nearly 1,200 fireworks complaints this year. The county broke down the types of calls they received between June 27 and July 6 from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night. The busiest night was July 5, with 352 complaints about fireworks. The busiest day for the non-emergency line was July 4. Sedgwick County took 412 calls that day. This includes complaints about fireworks and other non-emergency concerns. Out of those 412 calls, 183 were fireworks complaints. Source: KSN-TV

Having access to fresh fruits and veggies is a luxury many take for granted. In the center of Sedgwick, you can find a new garden working to make a change. "We have herbs, we have cucumbers, we have tomatoes, strawberries," listed off Heather Tucker, operations manager of The Meeting House. The plants are dense with nutrients and purpose. "Anybody from the community that wants to harvest from it can, but harvest respectfully, leaving some for others," Tucker explained. Source: KSN-TV

The Winfield Police Department and Cowley County Sheriff’s Office are once again hosting their adult citizens police academy, set to start August 28. The 15th run of the academy will educate citizens about the police department and sheriff’s office organizations, operations, and roles in the communities they serve. Source: Local – Cowley Post

Wamego’s fireworks spectacle is well known as Kansas’ largest display, but it also leaves behind a mess of epic proportions. Organizers said what normally might take a week to clean up turns into a single-morning effort, thanks to the help of student volunteers from area schools. “We don’t just blow stuff up and leave,” said Corey Reeves, Wamego tourism and event manager. “We have a small army of high school and middle school students, teachers, educators and community volunteers who just show up to help clean up afterwards.” Source: themercury.com - RSS Results in news of type article

The City of Wamego becomes Boomtown every July 4, transforming from an idyllic prairie town into a sensory celebration of America. The activities in town include a carnival, parade, car and tractor show, but the featured event is the fireworks show. Wamego tourism and event manager, and member of the pyro crew, Corey Reeves spoke about Boomtown just hours before the show was set to begin. That vibe was a real, palpable feeling throughout the community. A carnival drew in several guests looking to get their fill of food and thrills. A crowd gathered for the annual parade, but paled in [...]